DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's main share market index rose yesterday as investors continued to buy beaten-down petrochemical shares on hopes that oil prices may have bottomed out, while most other regional bourses were sluggish.

Brent oil's strong recovery above $50 a barrel last week made investors more comfortable with petrochemical stocks. Sector leader Saudi Basic Industries (SABIC) climbed 3.2 percent to 89.25 riyals on Sunday, while four other stocks in sector were also among the 10 most-traded stocks and saw their prices surge.

Although the outlook for oil and therefore petrochemical prices remains unclear, equity valuations are now seen low enough to interest investors. Analysts' median target price for SABIC is 106 riyals, according to Thomson Reuters data.

The Saudi stock index rose 1.9 percent to 7,827 points in active trade, testing technical resistance at 7,812-7,953 points, its highs in September and at the end of August.

Among other big Saudi gainers, oil shipper Bahri surged 8.9 percent after its net profit for the three months to Sept. 30 came in at 510.3 million riyals, up from 84.85 million riyals in the same period a year earlier. Albilad Capital had forecast 300 million riyals.

Miner Ma'aden added 3.6 percent in unusually heavy trade after saying it had started trial production at the Ad Duwayhi gold mine; the average annual production capacity of Ad Duwayhi was estimated at 180,000 ounces of gold. Commercial production is to start in the first quarter of 2016.

But Almarai, the Gulf's largest dairy company, slipped 0.6 percent after reporting a 10.3 percent rise in its third-quarter net profit to 595.1 million riyals; analysts had forecast 602.9 million riyals.

GULF, EGYPT

Other Gulf stock markets were more sluggish. Prices in most of those markets had dropped less than Saudi Arabia earlier this year, and they remain preocuppied by risks such as a worsening of banking sector liquidity and asset quality due to low oil prices, which have reduced flows of state money into banks.

Dubai's market index edged up 0.2 percent in thin trade. The most heavily traded stock, GFH Financial, added 2.8 percent.

At the end of last week Fitch Ratings affirmed the company's long-term rating at B-minus with a stable outlook; in a statement to the bourse on Sunday, GFH said this was an endorsement of the company's strategy in handling its debt and that higher ratings were expected in future.

Abu Dhabi's index added 0.4 percent on buying of blue chips such as Aldar Properties, up 0.4 percent, and First Gulf Bank, up 0.7 percent. Qatar climbed 0.9 percent as Vodafone Qatar , the most heavily traded stock, surged 6.2 percent in its largest volume since February.

Drilling rig provider Gulf International Services was another big gainer, jumping 4.6 percent on the back of firm oil prices.

Egypt's index added 0.8 percent in heavy trade, still buoyed by Thursday's news that Orascom Telecom and Act Financial aim to buy Beltone for 650 million Egyptian pounds ($83 million).

Orascom Telecom, the most active stock, climbed a further 2.7 percent on Sunday and Beltone, which had soared 20.8 percent on Thursday, jumped 7.4 percent. The merger activity sparked interest in financial and investment firms in general, with EFG Hermes gaining 4.5 percent and Qalaa Holdings surging 7.4 percent.

SUNDAY'S HIGHLIGHTS

SAUDI ARABIA

The index rose 1.9 percent to 7,827 points.

DUBAI

The index edged up 0.2 percent to 3,713 points.

ABU DHABI

The index rose 0.4 percent to 4,565 points.

QATAR

The index climbed 0.9 percent to 11,856 points.

EGYPT

The index rose 0.8 percent to 7,548 points.

KUWAIT

The index was up 0.3 percent at 5,728 points.

OMAN

The index advanced 1.1 percent to 5,932 points.

BAHRAIN

The index closed flat at 1,255 points. - Reuters